Torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder and method for operating the instrument holder

ABSTRACT

A torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder, includes a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. A device is provided for locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument at least partly disposed within the hollow body. A method for operating the instrument holder includes providing a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. The instrument is placed at least partly within the hollow body and the handle is locked to and unlocked from the instrument.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of provisional application No. 60/930,818, filed May 18, 2007; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder. The invention also relates to a method for operating the instrument holder.

Description of the Related Art

Prior art devices and methods of this type have been complicated, making it difficult to torque and push an endoscope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder and a method for operating the instrument holder, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which permits simple yet reliable gripping of an instrument, in particular an endoscope or colonoscope, for circumferential and axial movement.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder. The instrument holder comprises a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. A device is provided for locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument at least partly disposed within the hollow body.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for operating a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder. The method comprises providing a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. The instrument is placed at least partly within the hollow body and the handle is locked to and unlocked from the instrument.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the locking and unlocking device includes an actuator to be activated by the operator for locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument. The actuator may be a bobbin to be slid by an operator.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the locking and unlocking device includes a clamping plate disposed within the actuator. The clamping plate is moved radially inwardly against the instrument and radially outwardly away from the instrument by activating the actuator. The clamping plate may include a plurality of partial-plates, at least one spring biasing the partial-plates radially outwardly and detents integral with the partial-plates. The detents are disposed in recesses in the actuator in an unlocked condition and slide out of the recesses and push the partial-plates towards the instrument against a force of the at least one spring into a locked condition.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a body tube disposed partially within the handle and having a coupling end disposed within the actuator. The coupling end has slots formed therein within which the detents slide between the locked and unlocked conditions.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, stops limit motion of the actuator into the locked and unlocked conditions.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder and a method for operating the instrument holder, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view of a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder according to the invention, approaching an unlocked condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the instrument holder in the unlocked condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the instrument holder in the unlocked condition;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the instrument holder in the unlocked condition;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the instrument holder;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument holder in the locked condition;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of the instrument holder in the condition shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the instrument holder in the condition shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the instrument holder with a bobbin removed;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the instrument holder with a rear bushing removed; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the instrument holder with a coupler removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder 1 according to the invention, having a proximal end 2 and a distal end 3. The instrument holder 1 has a handle or grip 4 at the proximal end 2 and a rear bushing 5 at the distal end 3. It may also be seen from FIG. 1 that a bobbin 6 has been slid almost as far as possible toward the proximal end 2, into an unlocking position, which will be explained in greater detail below. When comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be seen that the bobbin 6 has been fully slid toward the proximal end 2 in FIG. 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 similarly show perspective views of the instrument holder 1.

The instrument holder 1 is shown in greater detail in an exploded view in FIG. 5. Looking from the distal end 3 toward the proximal end 2, there is seen the rear bushing 5, a clamping plate 10 having clamping springs 11, a bobbin ring 12, the bobbin 6 having a bobbin rib 7, a body tube 15 having a coupling end 16, a marker band 17 and the handle or grip 4. The clamping plate 10 includes three partial-plates or partial-shells 13 each having a detent 14.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal-sectional views in which the bobbin 6 is disposed in different positions. In FIG. 6, the bobbin 6 is slid distally against a stop 18, in FIG. 7, the bobbin 6 is slid proximally toward a stop 19 and in FIG. 8, the bobbin 6 is close to the stop 19. FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 also show that an inner peripheral surface 21 of the bobbin 6 has a recess 22.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the bobbin 6 has been omitted to show the coupling end 16 of the body tube 15 protruding from the handle or grip 4. It may also be seen that the detents 14 each protrude through a respective slot 20 in the coupling end 16.

In FIG. 11, the coupling end 16 has also been omitted, so as to show the springs 11 mounted between the partial-plates 13 of the clamping plate 10.

The operation of the instrument holder 1 will now be explained with the aid of the drawings. An instrument 23, such as a colonoscope or an endoscope, which is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6, is initially slid into a hollow body formed by the rear bushing 5, the bobbin 6, the body tube 15 and the handle or grip 4. The instrument 23 is inserted into the hollow body with the instrument holder 1 in an unlocked condition shown in FIG. 8. In the unlocked condition, the bobbin 6 is located proximally against the stop 19 and the springs 11 bias the partial-plates 13 radially outwardly. The detents 14 therefore protrude through the slots 20 against the recess 22 of the inner peripheral surface 21 of the bobbin 6.

When it is desired to lock the instrument holder 1 against the instrument 23, an operator pushes the bobbin rib 7 of the bobbin 6 distally from the position shown in FIG. 8, past the position shown in FIG. 7 and toward the position shown in FIG. 6, so that the instrument holder 1 enters the locked condition but may not reach the stop 18. As the bobbin 6 moves distally, the detents 14 slide along from the recess 22 to the inner peripheral surface 21 of the bobbin 6. This in turn pushes the partial-plates 13 radially inwardly against the force of the springs 11 and against the instrument 23, as shown in FIG. 6. The instrument 23 can therefore be manipulated by gripping and moving the handle 4. The instrument 23 is then released by sliding the bobbin 6 proximally once again. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder, comprising: a hollow body having: a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a trajectory beginning at the proximal end and ending at the distal end defines a proximal-to-distal direction; the proximal end being open to have an instrument inserted into the proximal end in the proximal-to-distal direction and to have the instrument extend through the proximal end in the proximal-to-distal direction; the distal end being open to permit protrusion of the instrument out from the distal end; a handle to be gripped by an operator; and a device operable to lock said handle to and unlock said handle from the instrument, the device including an actuator at least partly disposed within said hollow body to be activated by the operator, said device including a clamping plate disposed within said actuator; said clamping plate including a plurality of partial-plates, said device operable to be moved radially inward against the instrument and radially outward away from the instrument by activation of the actuator.
 2. The instrument holder according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a bobbin to be slid by an operator.
 3. The instrument holder according to claim 1, wherein said clamping plate includes at least one spring biasing said partial-plates radially outwardly and detents integral with said partial-plates, said detents disposed in recesses in said actuator in an unlocked condition and sliding out of said recesses and pushing said partial-plates towards the instrument against a force of said at least one spring into a locked condition.
 4. The instrument holder according to claim 3, which further comprises a body tube disposed partially within said handle and having a coupling end disposed within said actuator, said coupling end having slots formed therein within which said detents slide between said locked and unlocked conditions.
 5. The instrument holder according to claim 3, which further comprises stops limiting motion of said actuator into said locked and unlocked conditions.
 6. An instrument holder, comprising: a hollow body having: a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a trajectory beginning at the proximal end and ending at the distal end defines a proximal-to-distal direction; the proximal end being open to have an instrument inserted into the proximal end in the proximal-to-distal direction and to have the instrument extend through the proximal end in the proximal-to-distal direction; and the distal end being open to permit protrusion of the instrument out from the distal end, the hollow body further comprising: a handle portion to be gripped by an operator; and an actuator to be activated by the operator to move said handle portion between a locked position and an unlocked position; a clamping plate disposed within said actuator; said clamping plate comprising a plurality of partial-plates, wherein: in said locked position, said handle portion is locked to the instrument such that movement of said handle imparts movement to the instrument; and in said unlocked position, said handle portion is unlocked from the instrument such that the instrument is slidable within said hollow body.
 7. The instrument holder according to claim 6, wherein the actuator includes: a bobbin; and a clamp device comprising said clamping plate and disposed within said bobbin, wherein longitudinal movement of said bobbin is operable to: move said clamp device radially inwardly against the instrument, defining said locked position; and move said clamp device radially outwardly away from the instrument, defining said unlocked position.
 8. The instrument holder according to claim 7, where said clamp device comprises: at least one spring biasing said partial-plates radially outwardly; and each of said partial-plates having a detent operable to: be received within at least one recess within an inner surface of said bobbin in said unlocked position; and slide out from within the at least one recess and push said partial-plates towards the instrument against a force of said at least one spring in said locked position.
 9. The instrument holder according to claim 8, which further comprises: a body tube disposed partially within said handle portion and having a distal end projecting distally from said handle portion, said distal end having a coupling portion disposed within said actuator, said coupling portion having slots formed therein within which said detents are operable to slide between said locked and unlocked positions.
 10. The instrument holder according to claim 9, wherein said detents are operable to protrude through the slots of said coupling portion against said at least one recess of said bobbin inner surface.
 11. The instrument holder according to claim 8, which further comprises stops operable to limit motion of said actuator in said locked and unlocked positions. 